The scent of stallion hung in the air as the large black Shire made his way through the area he had come to call his home. He had no desire to enter the herdlands, for herds and the horses that came with it desired rules and codes and such nonsense. Abyss had no such desires. Rules were for the weak of heart, for those who thought that their actions need controlling.
Abyss needed no such limitations.
His actions were beyond control, and in the years since his mate's murder and the massacre of his herd, his mind had warped into a state of belief that he was owed whatever he could take. Most often, he took lives and he took innocence.
He had been righteous once.
Those days were over though, as gone as surely as the lives of his herd and his family. He hardly cared to relive them, to grow attached to a mare again and have foals with her only to have some beast kill them or take them from him. And he didn't want them anyway. He preferred a different mare every day, for then it was never old.
But lately, lately, it had been a slow week. Mares were hard to come by when many of the mares here either belonged to a herd already and had no desire to consort with his "type," attached to a stallion already and too moral to turn their back, or racist. He had learned, shortly after arrival, that horses with horns protruding from their heads existed and that horses that sprouted wings did as well. And those horses, some of them had no desire to speak with, much less breed with a stallion without...regardless of his looks.
The stallion paused, ears pricked and nostrils flared, hoping to catch the faintest scent or sound of a mare that would fall into his trap.
Love - what a concept. It was a distant dream, flitting through the painted filly's mind like a butterfly, so hard to catch and hold onto, always seeming just out of reach. It was so easy for others, it seemed. Everyone had a lover, someone that cared for them like no other, someone that would take care of them. It was this that the filly longed for. Since her parents had died, she had lost the unconditional love for which she so craved.
Her father had died first. She remembered that day well. It had been an unfortunate accident - truth be told, she didn't even know the details, for they were too gory for her young, young mind. She remembered the shell that her mother became. The light in her eyes, once so bright, carefree, loving, became dim, pained. Kanti was too young to truly understand the extent of the damage that her father's death had caused. Of course, she felt the gap that his presence used to fill, but for her mother, it was far worse. When she died, Kanti knew that it was because the void that her father had left was too large to ever be filled.
That was the kind of love she wanted, as strange as it seemed. She wanted to be so devoted to someone that she simply could not go on without them. It was just so romantic! Sky blue orbs were absent as the fae jogged through the woods of the Threshold. She wasn't particularly paying attention to her surroundings, which was why it was a surprise when she came across a giant steed, black as night, crossed into her view. Her auds pricked, and her previous thoughts scattered back into memories, as they usually were. He seemed alone, and that simply wouldn't do. Frostfall was horrid this year, and it would be much easier for him to survive if her were in a herd. Her genial nature got the better of her as she neared the stallion. She smiled broadly, ever friendly, and cheerfully whinnied a greeting. "'Lo, stranger! Are you new to this land?"
[W/C | 355]
|
Abyss
"I must confess that I feel like a monster"
|
There.
The faintest sounds of hooves against the grass and dirt, the faintest scent of mare upon the wind. There was a mare in the vicinity and the scent alone brought him to attention, his ears pricked ever more to try and catch her positioning. He would not have to move though, for as luck would have it...the mare would approach him.
She was, to put it quite bluntly, a beauty. Her golden and white body matching sky blue eyes put many of the mares to shame. And she was young, his interest awoke. Youth was so frequently associated with being naive that it was practically cliche. He could expect her to have no experience with stallions beyond what years at her mother's teat had taught her. The youth so often idolized love, and so very often painted rosy pictures within their minds. His eyes watched her as she approached, appreciating the young mare as only a stallion much deprived of the fairer sex could.
Oh but she was foolish! Her approach was not careful, not cautious. She was too trusting and his lips turned up in a smile to that. She was sheltered. It was written in the way she spoke to him. She had no apprehension. She reminded him of the twins, his daughters. They had no reservations when it came to strangers. In the end, that had led to their downfall. Walls were placed for a reason, to keep out the enemies.
Of course they often intentionally kept out the friends as well. But a lonely life was better than death.
"I must admit," the stallion replied, putting on a front for the mare, "that I have yet to explore these lands." He studied her a bit longer. She was trusting, but how far could she be pressed before she jolted away from him like the frightened filly she could become?
"I am Abyss," he introduced himself, rather charitably he must admit. It was not often he gave up so valuable a part of himself as his name. He did not ask after hers.
"May I ask why a beautiful mare such as yourself is out wandering the plains alone?" It was with feigned curiosity that he questioned the mare--no, filly--but it would suffice. She did not seem overly suspicious and perhaps, should he play his cards right, she would ensnare herself too deeply in his trap to escape.
|
|
The painted filly was not one to question the motives of others. Perhaps it was that she had been raised into sheltered innocence, or perhaps it was because she had spent a bit of time on her own. Certainly having to do with her naivete was the fact that she had never run into someone who wished her harm. Never had she been used, never abused, never even so much as looked at sidelong. She had been blessed, though she was not aware of it as such, to find kind, loving companions; though her eager happiness was, perhaps, annoying, this was the worst of her companionship. A wide open book, she was.
The stallion did not ask for her name, and yet she was eager to give it; the young fae did not need much in the way of persuasion to continue to talk. Another mild annoyance to those acquainted with her, no doubt, but nonetheless an integral part of her being. "Why, it's lovely to meet you, Abyss, and welcome to Helovia! My name is Kanti." Fearless, her blue orbs wandered over his dark pelt, his huge form, meeting his eyes as he complimented her beauty. She was not vain, of course - none that kind hearted and youthful can be truly vain - but she bridled at the compliment nonetheless, as it was not one usually given to her.
A smile on her maw, she contemplated Abyss' question. It wasn't strange to her to be alone - after all, she had been so since her parents' deaths. And so her expression was somewhat bemused as she answered, "It's not so strange to wander the Threshold alone. After all, 'most everyone that comes through here is by themselves." She didn't think about that fact that the stallion wouldn't know the Threshold from any other part of Helovia, but then that was another quirk of hers. She didn't often think things through before she spoke. Now she realized her mistake, and quickly sought to remedy any confusion she might have cause. "That's where you are, by the way, the Threshold. It's how everyone gets into or out of Helovia. Well, unless there's some other way out that I don't know of, anyway!" A shy duck of her head accompanied the explanation. She was quick to shy after a perceived mistake.
[W/C | 387]
|
Abyss
"I must confess that I feel like a monster"
|
This filly, it seemed, was trusting yet to a fault. He, only a stranger to her and certainly much larger was the one she trusted, the one that she was willing to gamble with it. Foolish.
Her voice was lovely, though her eagerness to speak shone through, a talkative one with little need for a prompt. Wonderful, it was them that were the easiest. He needed little talking to convince them, for he could be an excellent listener given the time...and the ambition. He smiled a secret smile to himself, and nodded at whatever it was...Kanti had said.
"It's lovely to meet you as well, Kanti," he responded with a dip of his massive head. She was so young, it was enchanting. Youth was so appealing, so innocent and fresh. It was like taking a flower and inhaling the most wonderful fragrances it emitted. Young mares were like that, particularly those on the cusp of adulthood.
Her eyes met his and he felt a jolt that was unfamiliar as well as painful. He had seen reflected in the orbs of his daughters that same bold fearlessness. This mare had known very little by the way of pain, and that in and of itself spoke volumes about her. Her history was likely less daunting than his. Of course, the pages of his novel were tattered and torn and filled with blood, a bit like the pieces of his soul.
"But one must be careful when they are alone,"he commented lightly, "who's to say that the next one you meet won't be the big bad wolf in disguise?"
|
|
It was youthful naivete that drew some to the young fae, and that repelled others. Of course, it was very difficult to dislike such a kind, carefree little thing; it was also very difficult to wish her anything but well. To the golden flicka, this was enough. She had never stopped to think that there might be those in the world who would wish her harm, never stopped to think that their might be those that would revel in her torment. To the femme, it was a warm, bright, delightful world with very little in the way of shadows. A flaw, almost undoubtedly so, but a trait of her character nonetheless. It was this characteristic that allowed her to be so trusting and so open, even with those that she had just met.
Youth can be directly equated to fearlessness: as one grows, one becomes old enough to do things but not old enough to have experience in such things. As in falling in love, one could easily do so and not realize how many mistakes would be made, thus causing sprouts of fear and doubt to grow. It was much easier to be young and inexperienced. As such, there were no reservations or fears in the young mare's mind about this dark stallion or his intentions. However, his comment sparked a flicker of trepidation; it is instinctual for equines and their winged and horned kin to be wary of predators such as wolves, and she did not catch the allusion to evildoing stallions. "But I haven't seen any wolves around..." Her insecurity was obvious, sky blue orbs unsure. Perhaps the big steed would protect her.
[W/C | 276]
|
Abyss
"I must confess that I feel like a monster"
|
It was almost too easy. She was so young, so fresh, so innocent. Appealing, very much so.
Trepidation was evident as her scent tinged with fear. He shrugged it off, if his words frightened her then she was likely to remain near him. She seemed oblivious to the figurative. Perhaps an offer of protection would allow her to follow him to some secluded area. He wished to keep her talking, keep her near him, that way she wouldn't be tempted to run off before she trusted him, and then...and only then would he strike.
"No worries little one," he rumbled, "I have not seen any of the four legged beasts lately, at least none to worry about." The companions that followed horses around intrigued him, something to consider obtaining. He had heard rumors, but nothing more. Nothing concrete.
"I haven't seen any lately," he assured her once more, "But young Kanti, please, do not fret. Tell me about your herd," he prompted. Talkative, a trait he had already noticed, would come in handy here. Perhaps she would talk his ear off, but at least he would have a shot at developing something akin to a relationship with her. A falsehood, yes, but he was a marvelous actor.
|
|
The stallion's words seemed to reassure the young fae. She visibly relaxed: her cranium, which had been held high, eye whites showing ever so slightly, lowered; her bodice, tensed to run, relaxed; her auds turned back towards the steed. In truth, she had not even been aware that her body had made these changes. As she felt herself relax, she felt immensely silly. Of course such a kind stallion would have warned her if predators were around. He would not have her just stand around and stare doe-eyed into the face of death. No, he was too noble for that.
Still, she couldn't help but glance around warily. Perhaps she should be returning home, to the safety of the herd - and when Abyss asked after the herd, she saw the perfect opportunity to invite him to join her. "I'm from the Windtossed Foothills," she began, unsure if she had already said this. "We just recently changed how the herd is run. It used to be a unicorn named Paladin. He was very nice!" She smiled at the memory of the leader's kindness. "But I s'pose he was only a temporary leader, and now we have a triumvirate of one equine, one unicorn, and one pegasus. I don't know any of them well, though. It's a lovely herd, and such lovely land..." She began to ramble on about the hills meeting the mountains, a waterfall, and other descriptors of her herdland. Finally, running out of breath, she paused. "You can come with me, if you'd like! I'm sure they'd be happy to have another member."
[W/C | 265]
|
Abyss
"I must confess that I feel like a monster"
|
The relaxation that followed his reassurances could not have been missed by a blind horse. She had been prepared to bolt, her eyes rolling white, and fear radiating off of her in waves. Now she had calmed, no longer on the verge of leaving. Had there been predators, he would have kept them from her. Heartless, he may be, but he did not let pretty mares fall prey to the predators that stalked these lands.
"I see," was his only response as she explained the leadership of the herd. It sounded terribly complicated ot him, as well as terribly ineffective. Power was meant to be in the hooves of one great leader and overlord and perhaps marginally shared with his chosen mate. This triumvirate seemed like it would require much work to maintain as well as much cooperation, something that many leaders did not have. Cooperation was not something that could be learned so easily. He could foresee potential squabbling amongst the leads that would lead to inner turmoil. But of course, he voiced none of these doubts to the filly.
"Herds are not a place for me any longer, a wanderer at heart." He wondered if she meant to return home soon. That would ruin his fun, but perhaps if he knew where the foothills were he could find her again. She was pretty enough for a follow up, for some effort on his part. "I would not let you travel home alone, though, if that is what you wished. I can escort you to your boundaries."
He could be elegant, when it suited him and when the need arose. He had been well-mannered, and he was well-bred. But the mood struck him so rarely...
|
|
It was a kindhearted offer, and one that was difficult to refuse.
After all, it was beginning to grow late in the afternoon. Long shadows were cast from the surrounding trees, bare of their usual foliage. The long, reaching fingers that stretched toward her immobile form were eerie, and after the mention of wolves, the young fae was uneasy. She would welcome the company, and perhaps she would be able to convince him to stay with her in the Foothills. It was a particularly harsh Frostfall, after all, and no one ought to wander about on their own in such horrid weather. Still, the sun had been shining today, so perhaps it would let up.
She smiled kindly at him, her cheerful naivete shining in her blue orbs. She would happily have him escort her - even if he chose not to stay, perhaps he would visit her. "I appreciate your offer of company, and I believe I will take you up on it," she said with a small giggle. "You are very kind." This last addition was, perhaps, a bit much, but the silly gixie didn't realize how simple she sounded. Such was her mind: simple, devoid of any real fear, far too trusting for her own good. It would come back to haunt her one day. "Shall we go?" she asked, turning to lead the way.
[W/C | 228]
[OOC | If you'd like, we can continue in the Foothills, or we can simply let it end here. :) ]
|
Abyss
"I must confess that I feel like a monster"
|
The stallion smirked as she turned her back. So easily the youth had fallen prey to him. Perhaps he could convince her, but how? He trotted alongside her, his dark feathering brushing the ground and gathering ice.
"It is a shame you wish to go so soon," the stallion sighed, "I do not often encounter beautiful mares such as yourself. Perhaps you will allow me to see you again? I know of a lovely place we can visit..." the stallion trailed off, the hopeful tone in his voice that of a much younger stallion who was praying not to be rejected. His age had taught him much and it was mainly that young mares wished for young stallions.
"Ah, little one, you are so beautiful. To think you leave me so soon pains me so." Older, more experienced mares would have scoffed at his silly, romantic words, but perhaps this one would be enough of a romantic to see them as loving and fall into his trap. The stallion was growing desperate and this seemed the way to perhaps see the mare again. He did so hate letting mares go without being able to count them among his conquests.
|
|
"It is a shame you wish to go so soon. I do not often encounter beautiful mares such as yourself." A smile crossed the young fae's lips, her orbs shining brightly at the kind words of the stallion. "Perhaps you will allow me to see you again? I know of a lovely place we can visit..." Confusion touched the gixie's mind, though she couldn't quite place the reason why. What was it about what he said that was strange to her? They continued trotting, easily nearing the edge of the Threshold. "Ah, little one," he continued, "you are so beautiful. To think you leave me so soon pains me so." These words, too, struck a strange chord with the golden-painted filly. Even to her young ears, the words sounded desperate. Did he truly think her beautiful?
Suddenly, she realized what was so odd about the encounter. "Have you been here before?" she asked, her confusion evident. "I was under the impression that only those who have just arrived in Helovia spend time in the Threshold." She had returned to the Threshold several times since she herself had arrived, sure, but that was to greet newcomers. Never had she seen a loner approach the woodlands once they had passed through. If he was a loner and already established here, what reason would he have to return? If he got lonely, there was no shortage of any of the three species in any land of Helovia. Why choose the Threshold?
[W/C | 248]
|
Abyss
"I must confess that I feel like a monster"
|
Confusion colored her next words and the stallion nearly winced involuntarily. The illusion had been broken, for she no longer found him just a loner, she found him a strange loner, one that returned to the Threshold which confused her and led to her next words. He eyed her. Would she leave? Was this the end of his game? It would be a shame, a shame indeed.
"It is not my first visit. But relatively, I am still new to this place. As for who normally spends their time here, I was unaware that there were regulations regarding who does or does not stay here." The stallion shrugged, "I have yet to explore the rest of this place. Still trying to gather my bearings."
|
|
His explanation made sense, she supposed. After all, had she not been found by Query upon her arrival in Helovia, she might well have returned to the Threshold simply to be in a place that she knew. She was immediately sorry for having spoken so, and wanted to make it up to him. "I'm very sorry," she said, speaking quickly, as though the words would not contain themselves within her mind. His aloof manner was different from that which he had shown mere moments before, and she much preferred the kind, if strangely interested, side of him.
"Please forgive me if I've offended you. I didn't think before I spoke - it's a problem of mine, I'm afraid." She offered a shy, hopeful smile. Perhaps he wouldn't think her too rude. It wasn't that she disliked him, or that she wouldn't see him again; but she did rather feel as though she ought to be heading home. But then, she didn't want to leave, having disappointed him so obviously. She didn't mean anything by it, of course, but some things you couldn't unsay. She knew this all too well, from previous experiences. A mental sigh crossed her mind, remembering. Her mother had told her that she should learn to hold her tongue, though her loving, playful tone had done little to reinforce the idea. Perhaps it was time to revisit the notion.
[W/C | 232]
|
((Is it all right if we end this now? My apologies, but I'm trying to gather muse and I have no ambition for this post.))
Psyche the DarkEmpress Posts: 380
| Deceased |
| Mare :: Unicorn :: 15.3 hh :: 8 (ages in Orangemoon) Buff: ENDURE |
| RayoDeSoleil |
[OOC | Nor do I. I've found myself without much muse for her at all, in fact... anyway, consider it ended. :) ]
|
.svg/2000px-Google_Chrome_icon_(2011).svg.png){kind=icon}
